Chapter 77: Negotiations Break Down
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: Negotiations Break Down
“What did the head of the Merchant Association say?”
Perel scratched his forehead as he spoke. “He says he’s been personally trying to encourage the shopkeepers to move in, but the backlash from the owners is quite severe.”
“So, is he saying the move is off?”
“He did say he would try to persuade them one more time.”
I snorted, his shallow ulterior motives plain as day. “I’m sure there’s a catch, isn’t there?”
“He suggested that it might help if we provided subsidies as a form of consolation.”
“He wants us to give the Merchant Association more money?”
Perel raised an eyebrow, looking impressed that I’d guessed so quickly. “He claims that since we lack a formal justification to pay the shopkeepers directly, we should provide the support as an additional budget to the Association. Then, he’ll distribute it under an appropriate pretext.”
“So, we provide the funds, and he takes all the credit?”
“That’s the gist of it.”
“What do you think, Sir Perel?”
“To be honest, the President himself might be the one blocking the applications. It’s even possible he hasn’t properly notified the shopkeepers at all.”
I nodded in agreement.
Having dealt with the head of the Merchant Association for several years, the quick-witted Perel had clearly realized early on that the man was exactly the type to play both sides for his own gain.
The President had always appeared quite clumsy and slow. To manage shrewd merchants, one usually needs to be sharp and agile, but he seemed like the type who could only focus on flattering others rather than actually getting work done.
Because of that, while I had considered him pathetic, I never suspected he harbored other intentions. It seemed that very clumsiness was his weapon.
‘His acting was certainly top-notch.’
Even I, who considered myself a veteran of the industry, had been completely fooled.
“Still, providing the subsidy would be the fastest way to resolve the issue,” Perel said, gauging my reaction. He was suggesting it might be better to just give the man what he wanted, regardless of his schemes.
“But there’s no guarantee the shopkeepers will apply even if we give the subsidy.”
They could just take the money and keep their mouths shut.
“That’s why I was thinking... what if we flip it? We could set a condition that the subsidy will only be paid upon signing the entry application.”
It was a reasonable alternative, but I shook my head.
“I’m against it.”
I had no intention of solving this problem with money.
“The terms for entering the shopping district are attractive enough on their own. There’s no need for us to take a submissive stance and offer subsidies on top of that.”
“That’s true, but...” Perel furrowed his brow slightly. “The Association President won’t move unless the conditions satisfy him. And the merchants will follow his lead.”
Realistically, if all the merchants from Gold Lane refused to move, it would be impossible to fill the new shopping district. That was Perel’s conclusion.
“Almost all the prominent merchants in the North operate out of Gold Lane.”
I turned the problem over in my mind. If what Perel said was true, the priority rights we offered were essentially meaningless. That was why the Merchant Association was acting so arrogant. They intended to stall for as long as possible to squeeze out every concession they could.
Their laziness and greed made my blood boil.
‘You dare try to do business with that kind of attitude?’
I wouldn't let the shopping district I designed run that way. Even if I had to show the delegation an empty street, I would never compromise with the Merchant Association.
Looking out over the lakeshore, I hardened my resolve.
‘It’s just as well. I was planning on creating a completely different atmosphere from Gold Lane anyway.’
I called out to Cecilia, who was standing behind me.
“I need to place an advertisement in this week’s Northern News immediately. Is that possible?”
“Of course, Your Highness. If we run an extra print cycle, it won’t be a problem.”
While a bewildered Cecilia hurried to prepare paper and pen, I turned back to Perel.
“Sir Perel, summon the master builders from the construction office right now. I need to change the blueprints for the shopping district.”
“R-right now, my lady?” Perel looked back at the construction materials piled around the lakeshore with a panicked expression.
“Don’t worry. It won’t change that much.”
I just planned to double the number of shops.
“Double?!”
Dumbfounded, Perel blinked blankly, wondering if he had misheard.
*
Late afternoon, at the training ground.
Norton took a sip of water to quench his parched throat and glanced across the field. The Grand Duke was wiping his sweat-drenched neck with a towel, his sword still gripped in one hand.
‘Surely he’s not going to ask for another spar?’
Norton’s hands were trembling from the impact of their previous clashes.
‘Of all days, that bastard Tiern had to be the one on escort duty today...’
Rumors had already spread throughout the knights that their lord had been training excessively lately. The Vice-Captain’s advice to "watch your back" was an added bonus. There were even whispers that if you got caught by the Grand Duke during his solo early morning sessions, you’d be forced to train until you couldn't walk.
However, Norton, who hadn't been to the training ground much recently, thought they were just exaggerated rumors. Hadn't the Grand Duke always swung his sword all night to vent his mana when an overload was near?
‘Lately, his condition should be better thanks to Her Highness.’
Knowing about the Grand Duke’s curse, Norton found it strange. Furthermore, the atmosphere surrounding his lord was different than before. He was just as energetic, but the uncontainable heat he radiated didn't seem to be coming from the curse...
As Norton tried to stall for time by drinking his water slowly, the Grand Duke tossed his towel aside and walked back toward him.
“One more round.”
“One more... sir?”
At this point, even the great Norton couldn't help but stutter. But it wasn't as if he could disobey his lord’s command.
Just as a grimacing Norton tried to take his stance again, the Grand Duke’s sword suddenly lowered. His gaze shifted toward the main road leading to the training ground.
Her Highness? Confused, Norton followed his lord’s gaze for a long time before finally spotting a tiny speck of a carriage rattling toward them in the distance.
The Grand Duke practically bolted out of the training ground.
The carriage, which had been heading toward the main castle, came to a halt at the path. While Norton scrambled to follow, the Grand Duke was already opening the carriage door.
Inside, the Grand Duchess, her blonde hair elegantly pinned up, peeked her head out.
“Your Grace! Were you in the middle of training?”
“I just finished.”
The Grand Duke spoke in a bright, buoyant tone Norton had never heard in his life.
“Would you like to have dinner together? It’s been a while.”
“Oh, what should I do? I’ve already promised to eat with Cecilia.”
Snap.
A sharp, splintering sound echoed from the carriage. The exterior handle of the carriage door, which the Grand Duke was holding, had suddenly come off in his hand.
“What was that sound?”
“It was nothing.”
The Grand Duke gripped the detached handle as if he were about to crush it into dust, then shot a sidelong glance at Norton.
“I finally... had a chance to be with her...”
Norton swallowed hard at the Grand Duke’s low murmur. If the Grand Duchess left now, he would definitely be sparring until his wrists snapped.
“Uh... Your Highness!”
Norton spoke up as loudly as he could, making sure his sister inside the carriage could hear him.
“I beg your pardon, but would it be alright if I took Cecilia with me? I was hoping to have dinner with my sister for once.”
At those words, Cecilia, who hadn't dared to show her face because of the Grand Duke, shot him a look of pure disbelief.
“What nonsense are you talking about? My appointment with Her Highness comes fir—!”
Cecilia cut herself off. Norton was glaring at her with a look of sheer desperation.
After a brief muffled conversation inside, the Grand Duchess peeked her head out again with a bright smile.
“Your Grace, let’s have dinner together then. The siblings are busy because of us; we should give them some time to spend together.”
The Grand Duke’s face brightened instantly.
“Then I shall see you at the castle shortly.”
Hiding the broken carriage handle behind his back, the Grand Duke gave a small wave.
Once the carriage departed, the Grand Duke turned and patted Norton on the shoulder with a very satisfied expression.
“The Grand Duchess is right; family comes first. Go and enjoy your time with your sister.”
Watching the Grand Duke leave the training ground with a wide grin, Norton let out a sigh of relief. He vowed then and there never to drop by the training ground out of boredom ever again.
*
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At the sound of the violent pounding on the door, the head of the Merchant Association, Baron Gelfry, managed to pry his eyelids open. His last memory was drinking wine with the executives all night at the Association until he passed out.
Looking around, he saw several executives still sprawled out on the sofas and the floor. Since he had sent all the servants away before drinking, there was no one to open the door.
“Is anyone there?!”
“Dammit...”
At the persistent pounding, Gelfry grumbled and finally got up himself. When he opened the door, several familiar shopkeepers were standing there, their faces flushed with anger.
“What is all this fuss so early in the morning?”
“What on earth is the meaning of this?!”
The shopkeepers shouted the moment they saw the scowling Gelfry.
‘How dare these commoners... in front of a nobleman...’
Gelfry felt his temper rising but exercised the utmost patience. Though the shopkeepers before him were commoners, they belonged to the wealthy class. Even as a newly minted Baron, Gelfry couldn't afford to treat them with total disregard.
“What do you mean, 'the meaning of this'? You have to speak clearly for me to understand.”
At Gelfry’s surly tone, Jamer the jeweler, who stood at the front, glared at him.
“What happened to the negotiations?”
“You mean regarding the shopping district?”
Were they making this much of a scene in the middle of the day over a measly subsidy?
‘I would have taken care of it in due time...’
Gelfry clicked his tongue. “Just wait a little longer. The negotiations are still ongoing.”
Just as a grimacing Gelfry was about to lecture them on their rude visit, Jamer shoved something in front of his face.
“Then what the hell is this?!”
It was an advertisement page from the Northern News.